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Adventure horror film

We Have a Ghost (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

We Have a Ghost (2023) movie poster

We Have a Ghost is a 2023 adventure horror film directed by Christopher B. Landon, starring Tom Bower as Ernest Scheller, David Harbour and Faith Ford. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $365,375 worldwide. Critics gave it 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
44%
worldwide gross
$365.4K
Echo Score
66
Metascore
53
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We Have a Ghost (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 7m (127 min)
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is We Have a Ghost About?

The premise of We Have a Ghost without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A suburban family’s life is upended when they discover Ernest, a playful ghost, living in their new home. Kevin, the young son, and Ernest become unlikely friends and quickly gain social media attention. However, their newfound fame leads them on a quest to uncover Ernest's mysterious past, revealing a surprising connection to a dangerous CIA conspiracy and putting them all in peril.

We Have a Ghost Themes & Keywords

· 35 tags
  • ghost
  • house
  • chase
  • car chase
  • reference to covid 19
  • based on short story
  • social media
  • investigate
  • cia central intelligence agency
  • police
  • laptop computer
  • smartphone
+23 more
  • reference to terry kath
  • reference to jimi hendrix
  • reference to ted cruz
  • reference to the kardashians
  • reference to red lobster
  • one year later
  • reference to uber
  • reference to lyft
  • reference to chuck e. cheese
  • reference to harry potter
  • reference to adult swim
  • reference to pewdiepie
  • reference to tupac shakur
  • reference to edith piaf
  • book signing
  • amnesia
  • memory loss
  • reference to kim kardashian
  • reference to kris jenner
  • horror for children
  • title spoken by character
  • supernatural horror
  • reference to shirley temple
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Cast & crew

We Have a Ghost Cast & Characters

Tom Bower leads the cast as Ernest Scheller, with David Harbour as Ernest and Faith Ford as Barbara Mangold. Directed by Christopher B. Landon; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in We Have a Ghost

· 6 more
Ratings

We Have a Ghost Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave We Have a Ghost 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

66 /100

We Have a Ghost Echo Score Breakdown

We Have a Ghost delivers a mixed viewing experience, anchored by strong performances and competent production values while stumbling over a fractured narrative and uneven tone. Critics and viewers alike note David Harbour's nuanced ghost portrayal and convincing visual effects as highlights. Conversely, the film’s pacing, tonal inconsistency, and scattered storytelling dilute its impact. The net impression is that the movie offers occasional enjoyment but fails to cohere into a consistently engaging whole.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of direction and visual craftsmanship, the film shows solid production design and effective VFX that many viewers found convincing. Critics acknowledge competent cinematography and moments of strong craftsmanship, though some point to disjointed editing and a lack of visual cohesion. The overall visual execution is competent but occasionally uneven, resulting in a respectable but not outstanding art score.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character work, performances are the standout element, with David Harbour's ghost drawing particular praise. Reviewers highlight the depth and chemistry of the teenage leads, noting nuanced acting that anchors the story. Some supporting roles are seen as forgettable, yet the core cast delivers a largely engaging emotional core, leading to a high character rating.

  • Story & Flow 55

    The film's narrative suffers from uneven pacing and a muddled tonal blend, which many critics describe as a collection of disparate parts. While occasional moments engage the audience, the overall plot coherence is weakened by too many competing elements. Viewers echo this sentiment, citing uneven pacing and a lack of memorable resolution, resulting in a middling story score.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory experience benefits from convincing visual effects and a lively, if not groundbreaking, soundtrack. Critics mention laugh‑out‑loud set pieces and effective humor that support the sensory appeal. Although sound design details are sparse, the overall visual style and production quality provide a pleasant, if conventional, sensory backdrop.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch value is limited by the film's inconsistent pacing and tonal shifts, which reduce its lasting appeal. Some viewers enjoy the fun moments and commendable performances enough to recommend a second viewing, but many cite forgettable aspects and uneven stretches that diminish repeat enjoyment. Consequently, the rewatch factor remains moderate but not strong.

Plot

We Have a Ghost Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in We Have a Ghost from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

One year after the previous owners abandoned the house in fear, the Presleys are led to view the property. The estate agent, Barbara Mangold, is keen to highlight that prices have recently plummeted, raising suspicions among the family. At the center of the family dynamics is Frank Presley (Anthony Mackie), who struggles with his relationship with his youngest son Kevin (played by Jahi Winston), an aspiring guitarist.

Full summary

The whole story of We Have a Ghost, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

We Have a Ghost Box Office

We Have a Ghost grossed $365,375 worldwide.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$365.4K

International
$365.4K
Videos

We Have a Ghost Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Anthony and Jahi We Have a Ghost short
  • Featurette We Have A Ghost Cast Describes the Film in 15 Seconds
Quiz

How Well Do You Know We Have a Ghost?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the ghost that Kevin encounters in the attic?

Cars

Cars in We Have a Ghost

36 cars on screen, including the 2006 Dodge Charger and the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria.

All 36 cars
  • 2006 Dodge Charger in We Have a Ghost 2006 Dodge Charger Important role
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in We Have a Ghost 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Important role
  • 2017 Audi A4 B9 in We Have a Ghost 2017 Audi A4 B9 Minor role
  • 2010 Chevrolet Impala in We Have a Ghost 2010 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
Details

We Have a Ghost Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “Ernest” and “บ้านนี้มีผีป่วน”.

Also known as
  • Ernest
  • บ้านนี้มีผีป่วน
  • Mamy tu ducha
  • Fantasma e CIA
  • Tenemos un fantasma
  • Imamo duha
  • Szellem van a házunkban
  • Avem o fantomă
  • Un fantasma in casa
  • 屋根裏のアーネスト
  • У нас привидение!
  • Имамо духа
+17 more
  • У нас є привид
  • Un fantasma anda suelto por casa
  • Meşhur Hayalet Ernest
  • Nhà Ta Có Một Con Ma
  • في بيتنا شبح
  • Meillä asuu aave
  • 我们家有鬼
  • 우리 집에 유령이 산다
  • 我家有鬼
  • Máme tu ducha
  • Έχουμε ένα Φάντασμα
  • יש לנו רוח רפאים
  • Mes turime vaiduoklį
  • Nous avons un fantôme
  • 家有衰鬼
  • Имаме призрак
  • Temos um Fantasma

Seen We Have a Ghost?

FAQ

We Have a Ghost FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of We Have a Ghost, each answered in a sentence.

How long is We Have a Ghost?

We Have a Ghost runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

When was We Have a Ghost released?

We Have a Ghost was released on February 24, 2023.

Who directed We Have a Ghost?

We Have a Ghost was directed by Christopher B. Landon.

More films by Christopher B. Landon

Who is in the cast of We Have a Ghost?

We Have a Ghost stars Tom Bower as Ernest Scheller, David Harbour as Ernest and Faith Ford as Barbara Mangold, among 10 credited actors.

How much did We Have a Ghost make at the box office?

We Have a Ghost grossed $365,375 worldwide.

How is We Have a Ghost rated?

We Have a Ghost has 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic, 65% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Does We Have a Ghost have a post-credit scene?

No. We Have a Ghost has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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